Skip to content
Bramble

World

Saudi-led coalition blames Houthis for drone attack on Medina power station

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says the Houthis carried out a drone attack on Tuesday on an electricity distribution station in Medina that supplies the Prophet's Mosque. It says one transformer went out of service and the grid was unaffected; the Houthis had not responded.

3 outlets · 0L · 2C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Anadolu Agency
Image: Arab News
Image: Gulf News

1 / 3

The story, neutrally told

The Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said on Thursday 1 October that the Houthis carried out a drone attack on an electricity distribution station in the Saudi city of Medina earlier in the week. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the attack on the station, which Anadolu spells Taibah, took place at 5.11 am local time on Tuesday. Al-Maliki said an investigation, an operational review and examination of debris from the drone established the Houthis' involvement in planning and carrying out what he called a "cowardly terrorist act".

He said the attack knocked one transformer out of service but did not affect the overall electricity grid. Al-Maliki said the facility provides electricity to the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and described the attack as part of a Houthi pattern of trying to target the Two Holy Mosques and provoke Muslims worldwide. Arab News adds that the Houthis also launched a drone toward Mecca last month, which was intercepted.

The coalition said it would continue measures to deter the Houthis and protect the two holy mosques and their visitors; Anadolu reported that the Houthis did not immediately comment.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
News report framing the story as the coalition blaming the Houthis, with the damage assessment in the lede.
Emphasis
Time of the attack (5.11 am), limited damage, and the absence of a Houthi comment.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the intercepted drone launched toward Mecca last month.
Charged language
“cowardly terrorist act”
For example
“Tuesday attack knocked transformer out of service but did not disrupt electricity grid, coalition spokesman says” — Anadolu Agency
“The Houthis did not immediately comment on the coalition's statement.” — Anadolu Agency

Right1 outlet

Framing
Relays the coalition statement closely, adopting its language on a threat to the Two Holy Mosques and a deliberate provocation of Muslims.
Emphasis
Religious significance of the target, the Houthi pattern of attacks, and the earlier Mecca drone.
Leaves out or plays down
Gives no time of the attack and no Houthi response.
Charged language
“cowardly terrorist act”“militia”
For example
“continued and deliberate attempt to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims worldwide” — Arab News
“The Houthis have also tried to attack Makkah, launching a drone toward the holy city that was intercepted last month.” — Arab News